“Money is power”. It’s a phrase that is believed by most of our culture today. We believe that Money is power and we constantly reward those with lots of it. We place more value on people who have it because every message we are sent from the time we are young says the more money you have the more options, influence and power you have.
I confess that I have wanted more money so I could have more influence. I have wanted more money so I could have more things that could make my life easier. A cook, a nanny and cleaning lady would be very helpful. I have wanted more money so I could give more to my families, friends and even random strangers that come across my path. I have even convinced myself that wanting these things was somehow connected to my purpose. I wanted these things in order to accomplish all God wanted me to accomplish in my life. I imagined how much more effective I could be if I had the money to have help with the everyday stuff of life.
I am no different than you because the messages of culture are so loud it’s very hard to drown them out with truth. The truth of the Bible teaches us an entirely different mindset on money. God is calling His followers to live by a different set of beliefs. The Bible teaches us about the kingdom of Heaven and how if we would seek it first, seek Jesus first then all these things will be added unto us. Culture is a kingdom of buying and selling and God’s kingdom is about sowing and reaping.
When I allow the loud messages of culture to penetrate my belief system I get caught up in the wrong things. It’s fun to think about what I would do with 10 million dollars because to be honest… 1 million just wouldn’t be enough… but the more I understand about the character of God and a kingdom minded system of finances the more content, happy and fulfilled I am exactly where I am.
Check out my new site slicesoflife.ca where this week… a couple other writer's and I have more interesting articles on money.
The truth of the matter is that in OUR culture money matters. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure that out. In our CULTURE those that “have not” are clearly visible. We sew / work and we reap / acquire wealth. Those that don’t follow this principle got hungry, end up on the street, or in divorce court. In OUR culture, when so many have bought into the North American lie, it is impossible not to attempt to live the same way. I’ve been to other countries, that have not bought into our way of thinking, and they are actually a lot happier and content in life. If you’re going to live like a Salmon, remember only a very few survive.
I live in the UK now and rarely shop (it is definitely not something to do for fun, and when my mom came from Canada and wanted to shop, I gave her 45 minutes with me where we had clear targets of what we needed to get, where we needed to go, and that was it!! She was on her own after that!). Whenever I am at home in Canada, we seem to mall it so much just for something to do, whereas here I do not do that at all. The biggest mall in Europe has opened up a short ride away from me and I have not been there..don’t really plan to go.. it holds nothing I REALLY need.. ultimately, STUFF AIN’T LIFE. Shopping is a chore to PREPARE for the living you’re doing. Also, the ‘consumer’ mentality is very insidious in finding its way into one’s whole mindset towards life, i.e. I have started to recognize that I’m seeing every situation in terms of ‘what am I getting’ compared to what I’m giving. This is a blatantly consumerist attitude. That doesn’t work with people, and in life in general. Definitely something to fight against.
Here is a thought. You say that “the messages of culture are so loud it’s very hard to drown them out . . .”
I think the problem is not that the messages are coming from outside. The messages come from inside.
The word ‘culture’ is related to the word ‘agriculture’ – we culture our children, and we ourselves were cultured. Put me in Italy, and I will never become an Italian not matter how loud the messages are. But, raise me as an Italian, and then I have been cultured as an Italian.
What is my point? We are not generous, unselfish people who are being turned or altered by outside influences and messages. We are selfish people, consumers, who need to allow the message of the Bible to penetrate our innermost being.
By the time we are old enough to become aware of so-called culture, it has already done its work. The trouble is not out there, but in us.
The solution is out there: “Feed my sheep”, “What you did not do for these, you did not do for me.”, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”
Jesus wants us open to what is out there, what is really out there: people who need people, people who need Jesus. I think the message of want, poverty, war, disease and despair in the world is plenty loud. We are good at blocking that out – why can’t we do the same with “the messages of culture.”
The problem is not that we cannot block out consumerism. The problem is that we let in what we want to hear and see, and we turn a blind eye to the rest.
I have seen the enemy and he is us.